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Friday, July 11, 2014

Defilementory Interview

1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording of the new album?

Thomas: Sure thing, and thanks for doing this interview! The recordings were actually finished over a year ago, and since then, Johnny left the band. He founded the band with me, but the pressure of live shows wasn't for him, which is perfectly fine, he contributed a huge deal to our sound, and the album, so a great time to pass the torch.

We had a short time with a guy called Jonathan, but he didn't have the time in the end. Lars joined, completing the line-up yet again, and we couldn't be happier. So it's been turbulent. Been doing a lot of writing in that time too, getting some material ready for when we enter the studio again.

2.You have a new album coming out in July, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical direction the band has taken with the new album and also how it differ from the ep and demo you had released a few years back?

T: The ep was basically slam death metal, which we've ventured away from. We've basically continued the sound from our 2011 demo, but with more coherent songwriting, and maybe a bit more fleshed out experimental side. We have a big influence from Gorguts, Ulcerate, Immolation and such with the use of dissonance, but also brutal shit like Gorgasm and Defeated Sanity. Our goal is to make death metal that is both brutal and intense, but with experimental and atmospheric edges, using a broad plate of influences.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer release and also how would you describe your progress as song writers over the years?

T: The title ”The Dismal Ascension” describes the lyrical themes pretty accurately. We've departed from gore themes, which has been done to death, and better than we ever could. We focus on the darkest corners of the human mind, misanthropic themes and dystopian futures. The final four songs on the album form a lyrical whole, that decribes an individuals ascension through rejection of human compassion and morals, to a higher state of being.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Defilementory'?

T: It's an inside joke from way back when we had a different vocalist. ”To defile” was his way of describing getting laid, which gave him the idea of calling us ”Defiler”. We thought that was kinda boring though, so I came up with ”Defilementory” as a place, where defilement takes place. It kinda relates more to the old lyric style of misogynist splattergore we started out with, but it's a fun word.

5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?

T: Two years ago, we opened for Gorguts in Copenhagen, which was huge for us, and a great show all around, but in my opinion, our best shows have been the two latest ones with Lars in the line-up, where everything fell into place.

Our performance is meant to be dark, powerful and intense with the music in focus. We use a lot of fog, and dim the lights a bit for darkness, and our presences, headbanging, interacting with the crowd etc, for power. Between tracks, I don't say much, since it kind of ruins the mood. We have some dark foreboding ambience instead, to keep the dark and brutal feeling. A lot of brutal bands rely on humor between the songs, which kinda ”apologises” for the music. We don't do that.

6.Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?

T: We have something planned in Denmark this coming fall. If that turns out to be a success, we'll hopefully do some shows in Germany. We'd love to play some shows in the rest of Scandinavia as well, going out to the neighboring countries.

7.The album is going to be released on Torture Music Records, can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

T: It's a brand new label, our album being their third release. It's run from Germany, by just one guy, but he has a lot of distro contacts around the globe. In the death metal scene, online distributors are your best bet for getting your shit out there, aside from playing shows everywhere and having some free streams. He gave us an awesome deal, and has been great to work with. Check his deals out, they're insanely cheap if you're into buying cds!

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of brutal death metal?

T: We've gotten some great response, from a lot of places, both American and European response, as well as people from Indonesia, they're crazy about BDM over there it seems! The album was mixed in Canada by Hugues Deslauriers who also promoted us a bit there, bringing in some great response as well. Most of all, we just need to get our name out there, since the response is generally very positive.

9.What is going on with the other bands or projects these days that some of the other band members are a part of?

T: Richardt and Lars both play in Abscission, which is more in the blackened death style. They are in the works with a new ep, which should kick ass, check 'em out! Simon plays in the 80's style speed metal band Encyrcle where he gets to play all the Yngwie style shred he wants to. Their debut album is on the way. Richardt and I also play in the black/death chaos band, Apparatus. We are recording our debut album soon.

10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

T: Since Lars joined, we've had a joint vision of taking the atmospheric parts further, and experimenting more. We will add more clean parts, as well as dissonance, some small bits of black metal influence here and there, and some more grind-ish parts. Some of the songs will be very long, some just short bursts of intensity. Working with the atmosphere and dynamics makes the heavy parts even more punishing.

11.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

T: To name some bands, Gorguts, Ulcerate and Immolation would probably be the biggest influences, along with Suffocation as the go-to source of brutality. We all love stuff like experimental black metal like Deathspell Omega and Dodecahedron as well.

I am a big fan of classical music, for a source of absolute musical expression. Some of my favorite composers are Debussy, Shostakovich, Wagner and Schoenberg. Other than that, we all love Toto and Level 42.

12.What are some of your non musical interests?

T: I study musicology, so music is basically a constant in my life. I waste my time on video games from time to time. Books and nature are also big interests. I think I can speak for all of us when praising good beer from smaller breweries.

13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

T: Thanks for having us!

Anyone reading, look us up on facebook or bandcamp, and keep supporting extreme music!